Over the past several months, the automaker bailouts, bankruptcies and franchised dealer closings have generated a great deal of speculation. Most of it centers around the effects these seismic shifts will have on new car sales and service. But these discussions have also increased public awareness of the viable and attractive alternative to dealerships — independent automotive service and repair professionals.

Clearly, anytime the market changes this dramatically, it creates winners and losers. The winners will be those who capitalize on the opportunities to capture new customers from the pool of consumers who are displaced by the closing of their familiar outlet or by their decision to keep a vehicle that is no longer covered under a factory warranty.

Do these displaced customers know your shop is open for business? Are you doing all you can to ensure that you are an attractive candidate to those who are looking for a new favorite place to get a vehicle serviced or repaired? It is all too easy to be complacent with the status quo and rely on what you have always done. Apparently, some automakers were guilty of this thinking, and now of course, we see the consequences.

ASA offers a number of services that enable members to increase their visibility in the marketplace. Some are provided by the stellar community of associate members that support the association. One service is provided free of charge and should be utilized by every ASA member: the official ASA PR Kit. Visit the Members Only section of www.ASAshop.org and get your message out there by using the valuable tools in the kit to create press releases, Web and print advertisements and more.

If you’re not an ASA member, you should seriously consider joining our community. One thing we know for sure is that consumers are looking for credentials and affiliations when they consider where they are going to spend their money. They want assurances that they will be doing business with someone they trust. Give them confidence in your shop by displaying and committing to uphold the ASA Code of Ethics.

In short, let folks know you’re “Open for Business!”